plate no. 6076

Madame Alexandre Kohler

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfigurewomanstill lifeplantclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing, and capturing the texture of fabric and skin using visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in creating a sense of depth and form through subtle value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and still life elements.
step 02
Establish the background colors with thin washes of paint.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the skin, clothing, and plant pot, paying attention to the overall color harmony.
step 04
Begin building up layers of paint, using short, visible brushstrokes to create texture and form.
step 05
Mix and apply subtle variations in color to capture the nuances of light and shadow on the face and clothing.
step 06
Refine the details of the facial features, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add the final details to the still life elements, such as the plant and the pot.
step 08
Adjust the overall composition and color balance as needed.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · yellow ochre

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · titanium white

Achieve skin tones by mixing burnt sienna, yellow ochre, and cadmium red with small amounts of ultramarine blue for shadows. The blue-grey of the dress is ultramarine blue and burnt sienna, lightened with white. The background uses a mix of red, yellow and white.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·color layering
·portraiture

common pitfalls

→Over-blending the colors, which can result in a flat and lifeless appearance.
→Ignoring the subtle variations in color and value, which can make the painting look unrealistic.
→Focusing too much on detail in the early stages, which can make it difficult to achieve a cohesive composition.
→Getting the proportions of the face wrong.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·oil paints (ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, cadmium red, viridian green, titanium white)
·palette
·assorted brushes (round and flat)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·palette knife
·rags